Gorzelanny returning; Bautista sent to Toronto

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INDIANAPOLIS (62-71) lost at Charlotte, 2-1. RHP Mike Thompson (3-3, 4.74) allowed one run and six hits in five innings. RHP John Van Benschoten (4.03) allowed one run and two hits in three innings. He struck out five, walked none and threw 32 of 49 pitches for strikes. SS Brian Bixler (.284) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. CF Andrew McCutchen (.279) went 1 for 3 with a walk and threw out a runner at second base. 3B Neil Walker (.239) went 1 for 4.

ALTOONA (60-72) beat Portland, 4-3. LHP Kyle Bloom (5-7, 4.17) pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed two hits. He struck out six, walked none. CF Jose Tabata (.269) went 2 for 2 with a double, triple and two walks. 1B Jamie Romak (.225) went 1 for 2 with two walks and two RBIs.

LYNCHBURG (51-78) lost at Frederick, 2-1, in 10 innings. RHP Brad Lincoln (1-4, 4.86) allowed one run and three hits in six innings. He struck out seven, walked none. LHP Danny Moskos (6.18) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and allowed two hits. He struck out three, walked none.

HICKORY (48-82) lost at Lexington, 7-5. LHP Charles Benoit (0-2, 6.51) allowed two runs and five hits in four innings. LF Erik Huber (.267) hit his 11th home run and went 3 for 5 with a double.

STATE COLLEGE (11-46) lost to Jamestown, 7-6. RHP Ramon Aguero (1-8, 6.64) allowed two runs and five hits in four innings. SS Chase D'Arnaud (.345) went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs.

Tom Gorzelanny will join the Pirates today in Milwaukee, back from a month-plus of pitching with Class AAA Indianapolis, and will be added to the 25-man roster shortly thereafter.

Beyond that, though, plenty is unclear:

• Struggling Zach Duke is the scheduled starter for tonight and, as of late yesterday afternoon, that remained the case. But Gorzelanny's most recent start for Indianapolis was Saturday, so tonight would be his turn.

• Someone will need to come off the roster. Actually, it could be two someones, possibly three. Closer Matt Capps also is expected to be activated. And utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz will be eligible to come off the bereavement list, though it is not known when he actually will rejoin the team after wife Jodi's heart surgery Monday.

Gorzelanny, optioned to Indianapolis July 5, made seven starts there and went 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA. He struck out 33 and walked just four over 35 innings.

Also yesterday, the Pirates traded third baseman Jose Bautista to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later, eight days after optioning him to Indianapolis.

On the first of this month, management had informed Bautista he would become a utility player, the initial sign that he was being pushed out of the plans.

"It was a combination of his role on the present club and on future clubs, as well as the value and compensation associated with that role," general manager Neal Huntington said.

Bautista is making $1.8 million and will be second-time eligible for arbitration this winter, virtually assuring a raise.

The player to be named will not be known until after this season, but it will be someone in the prospect mold.

"We might get a player who's a better fit long-term for us," Huntington said.

Bautista, 27, had batted .244 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Pirates this season. Including spending parts of five seasons in Pittsburgh, he has a .240 career average and 43 home runs in 441 games.

He will become Toronto's third baseman right away, with regular Scott Rolen on the disabled list because of a left shoulder injury.

"It feels good to go somewhere you're wanted," Bautista said last night in an email. "It was very sad to leave all my teammates, but it's something we have to deal with as part of this business. I think this change will be good for my career."